Commoners

You're walking down Brookley Road in Brockenhurst and you spot Commoners tucked away at number 66-68, and immediately you know this isn't your average Forest pub. The wine list is genuinely thoughtful—ranging from affordable everyday bottles to something worth splashing out on—and the staff actually know what they're talking about. The food punches well above what you'd expect from a wine bar, with mains that justify a proper evening out rather than a rushed affair. It's become the sort of place where you bump into the same faces regularly, whether they're after a midweek glass or treating themselves to something special.